synopsis 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine was reacted on polyethylene films irradiated in air with ultraviolet light. The changes in amount of carbonyl groups and 2,Pdinitrophenylhydrazones formed in the films were inferred by comparing their absorptions in the infrared and ultraviolet spectra, respectively. The amount of hydrazones formed increased with increase in the reaction time, and rates of the increase gradually decreased with increase in the reaction time. A comparison of the change in amount of hydrazones formed in the irradiated films with the change in amount of carbonyl groups formed in the irradiated films and the change in wettability with H-bonding liquids of the irradiated films showed that the amount of hydrazones formed seemed to be affected by amount of carbonyl groups in the surface zone of the film. The carbonyl groups were regenerated from the hydrazones with increase in the regeneration times, and rates of the regenerations gradually decreased with increase in the regeneration times. The regeneration was facilitated by raising the temperature in the levulinic acid solution, by adding dilute hydrochloric acid to the levulinic acid, or by raising the temperature in the levulinic acid solution containing hydrochloric acid.